Department for Transport

Roads: Accidents

Mrs Flick Drummond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research has been commissioned by his Department into the number of traffic accidents in which a driver's defective eyesight was a contributory factor; and whether an estimate has been made of how many such accidents were fatal.

Andrew Jones: The number of reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain in which the contributory factor “Uncorrected, defective eyesight” was reported can be found in statistical table ras50001. This factor is reported when the driver or rider's poor vision helped bring about the accident. It includes cases when the driver/rider was not wearing glasses when they should, or wearing the wrong glasses.

Railways: Training

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the shortage of people with rail engineering, environmental and construction skills.

Paul Maynard: The transport sector faces significant skills challenges driven by a range of factors including an ageing workforce, a lack of diversity, the introduction of new technologies (such as digital signalling in rail) and the sheer scale of our transport investment programme. The National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) has identified rail skills shortages in signalling and telecommunications, electrification and plant, traction and rolling stock of 10,000 people between 2014 and 2019. In response to these challenges, in August 2015 this Department appointed Crossrail chair Terry Morgan to develop the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy (TISS). The TISS was published in January 2016 and the Strategic Transport Apprenticeship Taskforce (STAT) was launched on 15 April 2016 as an employer-led group to oversee the delivery of the TISS recommendations andto address these skills shortages including through the delivery of 30,000 transport apprenticeships by 2020. The Taskforce has commissioned NSAR to update skills forecasts for both road and rail. This analysis is expected to be complete by the end of December this year. The National College for High Speed Rail will provide specialist vocational training to the next generation of engineers working on HS2 and beyond. Over 1,000 students are expected to graduate from the college each year.Construction of the college is now officially underway and on course to open its doors to students in time for the start of the 2017-18 academic year. Both the existing UK construction and engineering workforce as well as new entrants, such as apprentices, will benefit from the training that will be provided by the new college. The college will tackle the engineering skills shortage that is one of the industry’s biggest barriers to sustainability, productivity and growth.

Taxis: Rossendale

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2016 to Question 46806 on taxis: licensing, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in licence applications from Rossendale Borough Council between 2013 and 2015.

Andrew Jones: The legislation that provides for licensing of taxi and private hire vehicle services is enabling in its nature, giving local licensing authorities the discretion to set standards that they deem to be appropriate for their area. Rossendale Council has already made changes to the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle application process to address the rapid rise in the number of drivers they license. Wherever a driver has been licensed, the licensing authority that issue that licence must have confirmed that the driver is a “fit and proper” person. To help licensing authorities set standards the Department for Transport issues Best Practice Guidance. In addition to this, the Government has also introduced an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill that will make statutory all aspects of the guidance that are related to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Both parts of the guidance will be consulted on publicly once the Bill has received Royal Assent.

Airports: North West

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers travelled by (a) road and (b) train to (i) Manchester and (ii) Liverpool Airport in the last 10 years.

Mr John Hayes: The total number of (a) road passengers travelling in the 10 year period 2006-2015 to and from (i) Manchester Airport was 176 million, and to and from (ii) Liverpool Airport it was 45 million. The total number of (b) rail passengers in the same period to and from (i) Manchester Airport was 23 million, and to and from (ii) Liverpool Airport it was 1 million.

High Speed Two

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the pay and conditions for the incoming chief executive of HS2 Ltd will be.

Andrew Jones: HS2 Ltd hopes to have a permanent Chief Executive (CEO) in place in summer 2017. HS2 is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe. To successfully deliver a project of this scale and complexity, on time and on budget, it is essential to recruit the most capable team possible and the best expertise from around the world. HS2 Ltd are working to find the right person and their pay and conditions will be determined by the Government and the HS2 Remuneration Committee.  Roy Hill is being seconded to HS2 Ltd as interim Chief Executive under the terms of a Secondment Agreement between HS2 Ltd and CH2MHill. Mr Hill remains the direct employee of CH2MHill and CH2MHill is therefore responsible for his salary and benefits package. During his secondment to HS2 Ltd, Mr Hill is obliged to comply with HS2 Ltd’s policies and procedures (including in relation to expenses and conflicts of interest).

High Speed Two

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that at least half of the Board of HS2 Ltd are business professionals with exclusively private sector experience.

Andrew Jones: The HS2 Ltd Board contains a balance of public and private sector experience. The members are well qualified to provide the appropriate challenge and guidance to the HS2 Programme and include those with major project, construction and rail expertise. Ministerial appointments, extensions and exemptions to the HS2 Ltd Board, come under the remit of the Office for Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Heathrow Airport

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Oral Statement on Airport Capacity of 25 October 2016, Official Report, column 179, whether any public transport upgrades or public infrastructure will be required to facilitate the proposed additional runway at Heathrow.

Mr John Hayes: Heathrow Airport will benefit from Government’s huge committed transport investment programme which will see the delivery of Crossrail, HS2, improvements to the M4 and M25, as well as increased capacity on the Piccadilly Line. Heathrow Airport Limited will finance the surface access infrastructure required for airport expansion, including re-alignment of the M25, the A4 and A3044, as well as airport and terminal access roads. In addition, it will contribute to the costs of building the proposed new Western Rail Link and Southern Rail Access. This reflects the ambition to have no more people arriving at the airport by private transport than they do today.

Shipping: Environment Protection

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had on negotiation approaches with his EU counterparts in preparation for the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organisation of 24 to 28 October 2016.

Mr John Hayes: Preparation for the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is led on my behalf by the UK Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (PRIMO), who is supported by other officials within the Department. The PRIMO has engaged in discussions on negotiation approaches with EU counterparts and the European Commission at a coordination meeting in Brussels on 13 October 2016; and in the margins at MEPC. My officials also routinely engage at policy level with EU counterparts.

Halton Curve Railway Line

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the Halton Curve to open.

Paul Maynard: Following its inclusion in the Liverpool City Region Growth Deal, Merseytravel is managing the development and delivery, via Network Rail of the devolved Halton Curve scheme on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Construction work on the scheme is expected to begin in June 2017 and be complete by Spring 2018. Merseytravel anticipate that services will commence between Liverpool and Chester at the December 2018 timetable change, following the finalisation of agreements with operators and staff training.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on funding for local authorities of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government has already provided a long-term funding settlement to local authorities, including a £3.5 billion social care package, over the lifetime of this Parliament. In light of the recent decision to leave the EU, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been clear that the government will do whatever it takes to ensure the continued stability of the economy. He has said that we will no longer seek to reach a budget surplus by 2019-20 and will consider how the economy is performing before setting out fiscal plans at the Autumn Statement on 23 November in the normal way, once the Office of Budget Responsibility have produced a new forecast.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Tata Steel

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there has been a recent change to the policy that the Government would take a 25 per cent equity stake in Tata Steel's UK assets if a sale was necessary to secure the future of UK steel.

Mr Nick Hurd: There has been no change in the Government’s policy

Pubs Code Adjudicator: Complaints

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what processes are in place to enable complaints about the Pubs Code Adjudicator to be submitted.

Margot James: The office of the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) will publish its complaints policy shortly. It will explain how the PCA will deal with any complaints about the behaviour or conduct of the Adjudicator or any member of the PCA team and how the PCA will ensure that every complaint is dealt with fairly and impartially.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how his Department (a) assesses and (b) monitors the level of UK content during the construction phase of off-shore wind farm developments.

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to (a) monitor and (b) assess the level of UK content during the construction phase of (i) Hywind, (ii) Galloper, (iii) Dudgeon, (iv) Race Bank, (v) Burbo Bank Extension, (vi) Walney Extension, (vii) Beatrice, (viii) Rampion, (ix) Aberdeen Bay and (x) Blyth Offshore Demonstrator wind farms.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, together with the Department for International Trade, works closely with offshore wind farm developers and UK supply chain companies to maximise the UK content in offshore wind farms. There is an agreed industry standard methodology in place for the Industry to measure and record the UK content in each offshore wind farm http://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKcontent. The industry will publish anonymised and consolidated results to allow the sector and the public to track the sector’s progress towards fulfilling their vision. As such, the Government does not comment on the construction phases of individual developers.

Mining: Subsidence

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to amend the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 to allow the Coal Authority to take into account blight when making compensation payments.

Jesse Norman: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to review the powers under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991.

Mining: Subsidence

Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many properties affected by subsidence have been compulsorily purchased by the Coal Authority in each of the last five years.

Jesse Norman: The Coal Authority has no compulsory purchase powers in relation to subsidence and as such has not purchased any properties on that basis in the last five years.

Social Services: Pay

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2016 to Question 47961, how much of the £981,514 in arrears identified by HM Revenue and Customs between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 was subsequently paid to the social care workers affected.

Margot James: HM Revenue and Customs maintains data on arrears recovered in all cases – and actively pursues recovery through the civil courts where this is not paid.Due the way this data is maintained, providing this figure would incur disproportionate costs.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Location

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of senior civil service graded posts in his Department classified as (i) deputy director, (ii) assistant director, (iii) team leader and (iv) policy manager have been based outside London in each year since 2014.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy was created in July 2016; therefore no data for the department exists prior to that date.The number and proportion of our Senior Civil Service graded posts in the department classified as (i) deputy director, (ii) assistant director, (iii) team leader or (iv) policy manager, as at 30 September 2016, are shown in the table below. Total number of Deputy Directors191Total number of Deputy Directors based outside London13Percentage of Deputy Directors based outside London6.8%

Minimum Wage

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many employers use the Output Work system set out in Chapter 4 of the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015, SI 2015/621.

Margot James: There are no estimates available of the number of employers that use ‘output work’ as a way to pay the National Living or National Minimum Wage. Guidance on work paid per task or piece of work done is available online:https://www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-different-types-work/paid-per-task-or-piece-of-work-done

Nuclear Power: Electronic Warfare

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the risk of Stuxnet cyber-attacks on the UK's civil nuclear power programme.

Jesse Norman: For security purposes, we do not disclose details of potential risks to specific facilities. The cyber security of existing and proposed nuclear facilities is a priority for the government. The UK civil nuclear sector is subject to a thorough safety and security regulatory regime, including cyber, overseen by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

ACAS: Staff

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the number of staff working for ACAS who are (a) BME, (b) disabled, (c) female, (d) male and (e) over 50 years of age.

Margot James: Information provided by Acas shows that at 30 September 2016 the number of staff working for Acas who are (a) BME, (b) disabled, (c) female, (d) male and (e) over 50 years of age is as set out in the table below: BME  Disabled Female MaleOver 50 81*119488348415 * an additional 49 responses were given as ‘unknown’ or ‘prefer not to say’

ACAS

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what consultation process has taken place on the proposed reforms to ACAS and its staffing structure.

Margot James: Reform and other business processes are an operational matter for Acas. Since October 2015 Acas has held regular and in depth discussions with trade union representatives and consulted them as it developed ideas on the reform proposals. Acas listened to what trade union and other colleagues said and took it into account.

Migrant Workers: Trade Unions

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the number of employers who have prevented migrant workers from joining a union during their time working in the UK.

Margot James: The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold this information.

Migrant Workers: Pay

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2016 to Question 48990 and the correction to that Answer of 21 October 2016, whether he has received representations on migrant employees in the UK being forced to repay funds to their employers which had been paid to such employees as a result of shortfalls in wages upon return to their country of origin.

Margot James: The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy is not aware of any representations on migrant employees in the UK being forced to repay funds paid to them as a result of shortfalls in wages to their employers upon return to their country of origin.

Conditions of Employment: EU Law

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2016 to Question 49479, whether all EU-derived employment rights will be retained in primary legislation.

Margot James: Pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2016, all law in this area at the time of exit will be brought under UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, ensuring continuity.

ACAS

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Acas on proposed office closures and staffing reductions; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has not held any discussions with Acas on this matter. This is an operational matter for Acas. Acas has provided regular updates to officials at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on its programme of transformation to better meet the needs of service users and deliver its vision for 2021.

ACAS: Public and Commercial Services Union

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions have taken place between Acas and the PCS Union on the proposed closure of (a) the Liverpool office and (b) seven telephone helplines across England and Wales.

Margot James: Reform and other business processes are an operational matter for Acas. There have been numerous discussions with trade union representatives on concentrating helpline services in four locations and other aspects of change. A PCS representative was included in the working group looking at the proposals on office structure in the North West.

ACAS

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed changes to Acas on (a) maintaining the functions of the service, (b) office closures and (c) job losses; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: Acas is committed to maintaining the service it provides during this 12-18 month period of change and will continue to monitor performance standards to ensure that this is the case. The business change programme involves the closure of a single office (Liverpool) in the only economic region in Great Britain which had two Acas offices – the other one is located in Manchester. The closure will not result in any significant reduction in overall staff numbers.

ACAS: Liverpool

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether Acas has conducted an equality impact assessment on the proposed closure of its Liverpool office; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: Acas conducted an equality impact assessment to inform its decision to have one office in each economic area, including the North West. The assessment highlighted that staff with caring responsibilities or a disability would potentially be most impacted as they may be less able to travel to another office to work. Further equality impact assessments will be carried out as necessary to inform subsequent options and decisions.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nuclear Weapons: Arms Control

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role he expects the UK to play in discussions at the UN General Assembly on multilateral nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK plays a full and active role in the UN First Committee on disarmament and international security. We are considering nearly 70 resolutions covering the whole spectrum of First Committee activity working with other States to prevent proliferation and to make progress towards multilateral nuclear disarmament.

Nabeel Rajab

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45526, what representations he has received on the new charge brought against Nabeel Rajab by authorities in Bahrain.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Ambassador to Bahrain most recently raised the case of Nabeel Rajeb with the Bahraini Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, on 17 October. An Official from our Embassy in Bahrain has attended all of the hearings to date, including most recently on 6 October. We will continue to monitor the case closely.

Nuclear Weapons: Arms Control

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other (a) NATO member states and (b) Commonwealth countries on the upcoming discussions at the UN General Assembly on multilateral nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) has had discussions with a number of counterparts on the important issue of multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual disarmament, negotiated using a step-by-step aproach and within the framework of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iraq: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Iraqi government on the success of an Iraqi application for support from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are in regular discussions with the Government of Iraq on how UK support is helping to build stability in Iraq, support diplomatic and military efforts to defeat Daesh, and contribute to stabilising liberated areas. I last discussed these issues with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari at the UK-Iraq bilateral Joint Committee, held in London on 12 October.The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund is one of a number of means of support that the UK deploys in support of the Government of Iraq, complementing diplomatic and communications efforts. The Fund is currently supporting Government of Iraq efforts to deliver reform and reconciliation, stabilisation, and counter-Daesh strategic communications.

Kashmir: Human Rights

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request that the Human Rights Council begin an investigation into human rights abuses in Kashmir.

Alok Sharma: We are aware of reports of human rights abuses in Indian-administered Kashmir. Any allegation of human rights abuse in any country is a matter of concern and should be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently.

Ilois: Resettlement

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2016 to Question 49326, on Ilois: settlement, if he will provide an estimate of in-house costs associated with legal action.

Sir Alan Duncan: ​As details are not held centrally, this information is not readily available and could only be estimated at disproportionate cost.

Ilois: Resettlement

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contributions of the Minister of State on British Indian Ocean territory and the Chagos Islands, Official Report, column 77WH, and with reference to the further work being undertaken to refine policy options for resettlement considerations for the Chagos Islands, what the terms of reference for this work are; who is undertaking that work; who drew up the terms of reference and is overseeing that work; what the agreed timescales for completion of that work are; what consultations are being undertaken as part of that work; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer of 15 March 2016 (PQ 30618). We expect to announce the decision to Parliament before the end of the year.

Andargachew Tsege

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Ethiopia on whether Mr Andargachew Tsege has received the legal advice promised by the Ethiopian Prime Minister on 1 June 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Since Prime Minister Hailemariam promised that Mr Tsege would be given access to legal advice, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) has raised Mr Tsege’s case with his Ethiopian counterpart, Foreign Minister Tedros, on three occasions, most recently during the UN General Assembly in New York on 22 September. Each time he has insisted that the Ethiopians follow through with their commitment to allow legal access.

Kamal Foroughi

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Iran on the imprisonment of Kamal Foroughi.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) raised Mr Foroughi’s case with Iranian President Rouhani in person on 20 September, and followed up by letter on 3 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) raised Mr Foroughi’s case with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 22 September. We remain very concerned for Mr Foroughi’s health and have repeatedly raised this with the Iranian authorities, urging them to provide regular medical assistance and access to a lawyer. We will continue to raise Mr Foroughi’s case with the Iranian Government at every available opportunity, seeking his release on medical grounds.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the political implications of alleged war crimes committed in Syria during the present conflict.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We condemn violations of human rights by all parties in Syria. We are very concerned about reports of high civilian casualties in west Aleppo resulting from an Opposition offensive. It is essential that all parties to the conflict comply with international humanitarian law and minimise civilian casualties. We are absolutely clear, however, that it is the relentless airstrikes and barbaric attacks by the regime and its backers which are fuelling this violence, prolonging the conflict, deepening civilian suffering, and driving terrorism. The UN-Mandated Joint Investigative Mechanism has now concluded that the Asad regime has used chemical weapons against the Syrian people on at least three occasions and Daesh on one.It is for a competent court to decide when a war crime has been committed. The UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council resolution in 2014 to refer all those who are alleged to be responsible for war-crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, regardless of affiliation, to the International Criminal Court. Russia and China chose to veto this resolution. Russia has used its veto at the Security Council five times in recent years on resolutions about Syria.We discuss the situation in Syria regularly with international counterparts, including alleged atrocities being committed in Syria. We raised our concerns in the UN Human Rights Council's Special Session on Aleppo which was held at the UK's request on 21 October and which passed a resolution mandating the UN Commission of Inquiry to investigate the bombing of the humanitarian aid convoy on 19 September. We consistently use our interventions at the UN Security Council to highlight the suffering of the Syrian people and to urge an end to the violence and the indiscriminate bombing of civilians.We continue to support the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which is mandated by the Human Rights Council to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law in Syria. We also fund non-governmental organisations to gather evidence on violations with a view to ensuring perpetrators are one day held to account.

Cabinet Office

Royal Prerogative

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a decision to use the Royal Prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU will be subject to judicial review.

Chris Skidmore: There are now legal proceedings underway and it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further on these at this time.

Electronic Government

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to monitor copycat websites that offer government services.

Chris Skidmore: Copycat websites undermine trust in online services, and this government is committed to stopping them. We’re taking action on three fronts.First, we are taking action to shut down such sites and prevent them from appearing in search engines. We are working with search engine providers to ensure they implement their terms and conditions on copycat website advertising, increasing the click-through to Government websites by 30%. Security teams in departments across government are also actively monitoring the internet for bogus sites, and taking action accordingly.Secondly we improve the consistency and quality of Government websites, so that consumers can recognise and trust official sources of information.Finally, we are working closely with other bodies such as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) and Which? to raise awareness of this issue and ensure action is taken where appropriate.

Parental Leave

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many male civil servants have applied for shared parental leave since April 2015; and whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of male civil servants eligible for such leave in that period.

Chris Skidmore: The information on uptake of shared parental leave is not collected centrally, so we are unable to provide the numbers. It is not possible to estimate the numbers as it depends on the individual’s personal circumstances. The Civil Service has a long history of enabling employees to work flexibly in order to achieve a positive work-life balance and help attract and retain staff, especially those with caring responsibilities.

Cabinet Office: Location

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department who are graded as (i) deputy director, (ii) assistant director, (iii) team leader or (iv) policy manager were based outside London in each year since 2014.

Chris Skidmore: The Civil Service has significant UK-wide presence. Across the Civil Service, plans are in place for the creation of multi-departmental government Hubs in strategic locations outside London, which will further consolidate our office estate, whilst helping to attract and retain staff by stronger collaboration between departments and enabling staff to grow careers locally.In the Cabinet Office, in each year since 2014, there have been five or fewer Deputy Directors based outside London. Assistant Director, Team Leader and Policy Manager are not classed as grades in the Cabinet Office and information is not therefore available.

Cabinet Office: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Sue Hayman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 6 December 2010, Col 7WS, what consideration his Department has given to the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when making new policy and legislation since May 2015.

Chris Skidmore: On 17 October the Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families laid a Written Ministerial Statement before this House reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It stated that both the UNCRC articles and the Committee’s recent Concluding Recommendations serve as a helpful and important guide to making sure that our policies - whether they hold direct or indirect consequences – consider children.It is very important that we analyse the impact of polices in relation to particular groups: this is a fundamental part of good policy-making. This is done in a range of ways, particularly through engagement with civil society and professionals. In addition, the Cabinet Office’s own guidance encourages all government departments to consider, and set out in summary, the anticipated effects of legislation on children and on the compatibility of draft legislation with the UNCRC. This guidance can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/450239/Guide_to_Making_Legislation.pdf

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Recruitment

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department plans to employ staff (a) directly or (b) on secondment with experience in defence policy to inform its negotiations on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Mr David Jones: The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 250 staff. We are not in a position to give a final total for particular groups of staff as recruitment is ongoing and we will not be giving a running commentary. Our aim is to have a streamlined Department, while hiring in the right skills and experience to get the best outcome for the UK.

Department for International Development

Africa: Electricity

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent progress has been made on the Energy Africa access campaign.

James Wharton: Energy Africa aims to develop compacts with up to 14 African countries to remove policy and regulatory barriers to off-grid solar market expansion. Eleven countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Uganda) have signed interim partnership agreements. The compact development process is well under way in these countries and one has been agreed with Sierra Leone. Several others are in final negotiations and are expected to be agreed in the coming months.DFID is also providing technical assistance and other programmatic support to help with the implementation of the compacts.

Nepal: Earthquakes

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to which areas UK funds to help with the earthquake in Nepal are being dispersed; and what steps she is taking to ensure the resources are reaching the affected areas.

Rory Stewart: UK funds are being dispersed to support post-earthquake reconstruction activities primarily in four focal districts; which are Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa and Nuwakot. The UK Government is also supporting the Government of Nepal’s national reconstruction priorities that help reach out to all earthquake affected districts. These include housing reconstruction coordination, assessing geological post-earthquake hazards, enrolling affected households into the housing grant process, and training builders.DFID works hard to ensure that all of our programmes are closely monitored, and adopts a zero tolerance approach towards any form of corruption and fraud. A DFID field office in the earthquake affected areas and field visits from DFID staff monitor our partners’ delivery. All DFID reconstruction related projects have been designed with key stakeholders as well as being informed by surveys, field visits and studies conducted in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the price of HIV drugs procured by her Department has increased over the last five years; and whether her Department's overall spending on drug procurement has increased as a result.

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to ensure value for money when procuring medicines and other health technologies as part of its bilateral and multilateral spending on health.

James Wharton: The UK stands as one of the world’s largest funders of essential health commodities for developing countries, largely due to our investment in multilateral organisations such as the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccines Alliance.We work hard to ensure that our bilateral and multilateral partners secure maximum value for money in their purchasing of health commodities through best commercial practice, including international competitive tendering, and partnerships with the private sector. DFID’s work in this area has unlocked huge value gains across a number of key health commodity markets. For example, the cost of a year’s supply of antiretrovirals for HIV/AIDS has fallen by 50% since 2010. By the end of 2015, 17 million patients across the globe were on antiretroviral treatment, compared with 0.7 million in 2000.

Overseas Aid: Fraud

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2016 to Question 47905, what proportion of her Department's spending those proven cases of fraud represented in each of those financial years.

Rory Stewart: In 2013-14 net losses resulting from fraud cases closed in the period totalled £202,474.In 2014-15 net losses resulting from fraud cases closed in the period totalled £748,980.In 2015-16 net losses resulting from fraud cases closed in the period totalled £1,069,481.

Middle East: Overseas Aid

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2016 to Question 47905, whether any of those instances of fraud were related to her Department's spending in (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Rory Stewart: The department had no reported losses relating to (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the three consecutive years mentioned.

Department for Education

Schools: Fire Extinguishers

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that sprinkler systems are installed in all schools.

Nick Gibb: The proper standard of fire safety, to protect life and property, is essential in our schools. All schools must comply with building and fire safety regulations. All new schools are assessed on a case-by-case basis for fire safety and, where it is concluded that sprinklers must be fitted to protect property or keep children safe, they will be. This is consistent with the position set out in our Fire Safety Design for Schools – Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) guidance for schools in England and Wales. Schools in Northern Ireland are required to comply with the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 which reinforces a risk based approach to fire prevention.

Schools: Fire Extinguishers

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on children's safety of changes to Building Bulletin 100 guidance relating to sprinkler systems in school buildings.

Nick Gibb: The requirement for a proper fire risk assessment to determine the need for sprinklers in new schools has not changed. We are currently consulting on updating the Fire Safety Design for Schools – Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) guidance as it is nearly 10 years old. It remains the case that all new schools are assessed on a case-by-case basis for fire safety and, where it is concluded that sprinklers must be fitted to protect property or keep children safe, they will be. The proper standard of fire safety, to protect life and property, is essential in our schools. All schools must comply with building and fire safety regulations.

Schools: Fire Prevention

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has held with (a) fire services, (b) the Fire Brigades Union and (c) other organisations on its current consultation on Building Bulletin 100 guidance.

Nick Gibb: The Department has received responses in relation to the consultation to revise the Fire Safety Design for Schools - Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) from a number of stakeholders. These include 15 fire services, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). Departmental officials are in the process of arranging follow-up meetings with a range of stakeholders, including the CFOA, the FBU, the National Union of Teachers, and sprinkler profession networks, to ensure that we explore the evidence base fully.

Schools: Fire Extinguishers

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department sought legal advice in advance of redrafting the Building Bulletin 100 guidance relating to sprinkler systems in school buildings; and what assessment her Department made of that advice.

Nick Gibb: We are currently consulting on updating the Fire Safety Design for Schools – Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) guidance as it is nearly 10 years old. However, there is no change to the policy regarding the installation of sprinklers in new school buildings, and the requirement for a proper fire risk assessment to determine the need for sprinklers in new schools is consistent with the BB100 guidance from 2007. All new schools are assessed on a case-by-case basis for fire safety and, where it is concluded that sprinklers must be fitted to protect property or keep children safe, they will be. All schools must comply with building and fire safety regulations.As there has been no change in policy, no legal advice was required in the development of the draft updated BB100 guidance.

Children: Day Care

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information she holds on the proportion of childcare providers offering free places as part of the Government's commitment to offer three and four-year-olds 30 free hours of childcare.

Caroline Dinenage: The latest Statistical First Release published in June 2016 shows that 45,075 childcare providers were delivering funded early education to three and four year olds. 93% of three-year-olds and 97% of four-year-olds were taking up 15 hours of free childcare per week. This information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2016 Working parents of three- and four-year olds will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare from September 2017. The Government is making a record-level of investment in early years to ensure that childcare providers receive sufficient funding to deliver the 30 hour entitlement. This includes increasing spending on the free entitlements by over £1 billion per year by 2019-20 and providing £300 million per year from 2017-18 for a significant increase to the rate paid for the two, three- and four-year- old entitlements. Alongside this, we launched a consultation on reforms to Early Years funding on 11 August, which is available at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/early-years-funding/eynff The purpose of the funding reforms is to ensure that funding is transparently and fairly matched to need and fairly distributed between different types of providers and different parts of the country. We will publish the government response to this consultation later this year. The Government has also run a bidding round to allocate £40 million of capital funding to local authorities and providers which can demonstrate that they will work in partnership to deliver the 30 hour entitlement. The successful projects will be announced in December 2016.

Foster Care

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in local authority care are awaiting placement with foster parents.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not collect this information. If any children are awaiting placement with foster carers, that information will be kept at local authority level. As at March 2015 there were 73,845 approved foster carers in England.

Schools: Electrical Safety

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that early years settings and schools are aware that socket covers should not be inserted in BS 1363 sockets.

Nick Gibb: All schools and early years settings in England have a duty to keep children safe. As part of that duty we expect them to keep their health and safety policies under review and up-to-date. Working with ‘Action for Children’ we have brought the Department of Health’s recent alert on the dangers associated with the use of electrical socket covers to the attention of early years providers in England. ‘Action for Children’ has published a notice, via the Foundation Years website, about the use of electrical socket covers in early years provision in England. This is available at: www.foundationyears.org.uk/2016/10/dfe-note-on-the-use-of-electrical-plug-socket-coversinserts-in-early-years-provision-in-england. ‘Action for Children’ has also published the information in a newsletter to early years providers. We are currently reviewing our health and safety advice for schools, and will consider whether to include a similar reference in a future addition of this advice as part of this work.

Young People: Work Experience

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to make more tailored support available to young people with a disability or long-term health condition who are undertaking work experience.

Edward Timpson: Schools and colleges are expected to offer post-16 students personalised study programmes based on the students’ prior attainment and make provision for students’ special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). In addition, mainstream schools and colleges have a duty under the Children and Families Act to use their best endeavours to make sure a young person with SEND gets the support they need. This duty includes all aspects of learning, including work experience. Access to Work funding (which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions) is available to help pay for practical support so that disabled people can do their jobs. For students on a supported internship or a traineeship, Access to Work can provide funding for job coaches, where needed, to support the student during their work experience.

Department for Education: Data Protection

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on how many occasions her Department has removed statistical data from her Department's website in each year since 2010; for how long each piece of data was so removed; and what the purpose was of each such removal.

Caroline Dinenage: The information requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.Our statistics are published under the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Statistical tables are only withdrawn where the data being published is either incomplete or if there are issues/errors within the data. Explanations are given where data are removed. The data are always republished as soon as the issues are resolved.

Children: Day Care

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of full day care staff had an Early Years Educator Level 3 qualification or above in each year since 2013.

Caroline Dinenage: The 2013 Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey showed that 87% of staff in full day care settings are now qualified to at least level 3. This is an increase from 75% in 2008. The Department does not hold this data for the years since 2013, the data for 2016 will be available by early 2017.

Pre-school Education: Qualifications

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she intends to publish the review announced by her predecessor into the mathematics and English GCSE requirements for the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has committed to revisiting the GCSE requirement for level 3 Early Years Educator staff and we will be announcing the next steps on this in due course. The Department has also committed to developing a workforce strategy to help early years settings attract, retain and develop staff to deliver high quality provision. We have already spoken to large parts of the sector to seek their views on the challenges they face and we will be considering Government’s role in helping to remove barriers as part of the strategy.

College of Teaching

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many members have joined the government-funded chartered College of Teaching since its inception.

Nick Gibb: Membership of the College is a matter for the independent College of Teaching.

College of Teaching

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Department has had any discussions with the chartered College of Teaching about further Government funding.

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has received a formal request from the chartered College of Teaching for further public funding.

Nick Gibb: There have been no discussions with, and no formal requests from, the independent College of Teaching regarding further public funding.

College of Teaching

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings (a) she, (b) the Minister for Schools, (c) her advisers and (d) officials of her Department have had with representatives of the chartered College of Teaching since she took up her office.

Nick Gibb: I have met Professor Dame Alison Peacock in her capacity as the College’s CEO Designate. Departmental officials have held meetings with representatives of the independent College of Teaching to discuss the Government funding to support the initial establishment of the College. The Secretary of State for Education and her advisers have not yet held meetings with representatives of the College since she took up her office.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Education

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps her Department has taken to improve education in prisons.

Mr Sam Gyimah: I refer the Hon member to my answer to PQ 46278.

Driving: Licensing

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many drivers have avoided disqualification from driving within the last year by pleading the loss of their licence would cause exceptional hardship.

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she plans to include legislation for exceptional hardship pleas within the forthcoming review of motoring offences and penalties.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Information about drivers who have not been disqualified from driving as a result of a court accepting that disqualification would lead to exceptional hardship is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Government is committed to making sure that sentencing for those who kill or cause serious injury on the roads is proportionate within the context of our wider sentencing framework. It is our intention to commence a consultation on driving offences and penalties before the end of the year.

Prisoners: Safety

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to update the safety in custody statistics.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Safety in Custody statistics are published quarterly. The latest bulletin was published on 27 October 2016 and can be found on gov.uk Each bulletin contains the date of publication for the next update.

Prisons: Capital Investment

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans to announce the sites for the Prisons Investment programme.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We are investing £1.3 billion to reform and modernise the prison estate to make it more efficient, safer and focused on supporting prisoner rehabilitation. We will build new prisons and close prisons that are in poor condition and those which do not have a long-term future in the estate.We are currently considering sites for new prison places and will set out plans shortly.

Asylum: Appeals

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost in the last 12 months of an asylum appeal in the (a) First-tier and (b) Upper-tier Tribunal.

Sir Oliver Heald: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has estimated the average unit cost of an asylum appeal in the First-tier as £1245 in financial year 2015/16 and £1237 in 2016/17 year to date. The average unit cost of any appeal to the Upper Tribunal is estimated at £2257 in financial year 2015/16 and £2467 in 2016/17 year to date. These are operational costs only, excluding corporate overheads.

Prime Minister

UK Withdrawal from EU

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment she has made of whether the EU referendum result will lead to changes in any of the Government's previously-announced policies.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth) on 21 July 2016, UIN 43109

Ministry of Defence

Submarines: Safety

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department's policy that all submarines being constructed for the Royal Navy meet shock standard BR3021 as a minimum in respect of hydroplane bolts.

Harriett Baldwin: Hydroplane bolts are externally located equipment, whereas the BR Standard referred to, albeit superseded, sets standards for internal equipment. The Department is satisfied that appropriate standards are met for this equipment in accordance with our existing guidance.

Iraq: Islamic State

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has held with (a) the Iraqi government and (b) other governments in that region on blocking the route between Mosul and the Syrian border which Daesh forces could use to escape Mosul.

Mike Penning: The Secretary of State for Defence has met his Iraqi counterpart and Coalition partners, and has discussed the operations to defeat Daesh. The Iraqi-led operation to recapture Mosul is a vital part of the overall campaign against Daesh in the region. Coalition partners are aware of the importance of a comprehensive operation that will take all action necessary to degrade and defeat Daesh.

Warships

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department considers to be the standard composition of the maritime task group outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Mike Penning: The Maritime Task Group will be tailored for each task. While the precise number and mix of vessels deployed would be dictated by the prevailing operational circumstances, we could draw from a range of modern and highly capable vessels including the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, with embarked F-35B Lightning II and helicopters, surface combatants, submarines and logistic support shipping.

Ministry of Defence: Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds any foreign currency reserves.

Sir Michael Fallon: The Ministry of Defence has a forward purchase programme for foreign currency, using services provided by the Bank of England as agent for HM Treasury's Exchange Equalisation Account. This provides the Department with a degree of price stability that is currently mitigating the effect of the sterling rate on the Department's costs.

Armed Forces: Coroners

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the protocol between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence, the Scottish Government and the Chief Coroner on dealing with military deaths in Scotland.

Mark Lancaster: Ministry of Defence officials will consult the organisations who are a party to the protocol for liaison on Fatal Accident Inquiries and I will write to the hon. Member once that consultation on publication has taken place.

Ministry of Defence: Cost Effectiveness

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page three of the National Audit Office report, Departmental Overview 2015-16, Ministry of Defence, published on 21 October 2016, from which budget headings the £9.2 billion of planned savings referred to in that report will be made.

Sir Michael Fallon: The £9.2 billion planned savings will be delivered from: military and civilian pay restraint, reductions to the civilian headcount, the ending of military commitment bonuses, reductions in travel expenditure and professional fees, re-prioritisation of £2 billion of existing funding and further efficiencies within the Equipment Programme.

Middle East: Military Aid

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training assistance his Department has provided to (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) the United Arab Emirates, (c) Qatar, (d) Kuwait and (e) Oman in the last five years.

Mike Penning: Over the past five years, UK Armed Forces have provided support to the armed forces of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman both in-country and in the UK and continue to do so. These States have attended international defence training courses in the UK such as the advanced command and staff course, Royal College of Defence Studies and Initial Officer Training.UK Armed Forces have also provided training in-country through the delivery of tactical level Short Term Training Teams in the maritime, land and air domains. The Defence Academy has also delivered the Strategic Leadership Programme and Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context courses to Gulf States along with the Royal Navy's Exclusive Economic Zone Protection Officer course.

Middle East: Military Intervention

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice he has received on whether armed Reaper drones on missions outside Syria and Iraq are covered by the convention that Parliament has an opportunity to debate the circumstances in which armed forces are committed to military operations.

Mike Penning: Whether the Convention applies would depend on the circumstances in which Reaper was to be used. Unmanned aerial systems are subject to the same operational accountability and oversight to that of manned aircraft, including the application of the War Powers Convention.

Army: Recruitment

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made in the Army Recruiting Partnership Project; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Penning: The Army's recruiting performance continues to get better, and the candidate's experience is improved through better communication processes, with improved processing and greater levels of candidate involvement. Inflow has increased year on year.However, the delivery of the ICT has been further delayed, and approval has been requested for a revised Go-Live date of November 2017. Capita is working to deliver an earlier date of spring 2017 and I maintain a keen oversight of this issue.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether armed Reaper drones engaged in operations overseas are part of the armed forces for the purposes of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

Mike Penning: Reapers (whether armed or not) are remotely piloted aircraft and, as such, they cannot themselves be "armed forces" for the purposes of the Armed Forces Act 2006 but those who pilot them on operations overseas will be.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether pilots who are in control of armed Reaper drones conducting operations overseas are (a) engaged in armed conflict and (b) regulated by the laws of war.

Mike Penning: Whether UK pilots in control of Reaper unmanned aerial system conducting operations overseas are engaged in an armed conflict depends on the type of operation the pilots are undertaking. UK military personnel who are using force on overseas operations will do so in accordance with the laws of war (also known as the Law of Armed Conflict/International Humanitarian Law).

EU Defence Policy

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the (a) effectiveness and (b) scope of the work undertaken by the EU Military Committee of the UK leaving the EU.

Mike Penning: The EU Military Committee is the senior military forum of Member States that discusses EU Security and Defence matters. It is currently focused on the deliverables and implementation of the European Global Strategy, and as a full member the UK remains firmly engaged in this work.The role of the committee after the UK has left the EU will be a matter for the remaining Member States.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) has directly employed and (b) plans to directly employ additional staff as a result of the decision of the UK to leave the EU.

Mike Penning: The Ministry of Defence has allocated four internal staff specifically to deal with work arising from the UK's decision to leave the European Union so far as it affects Defence. The Department is not currently planning to directly employ any additional staff. Any future decision to recruit personnel into the Department to address specific issues resulting from the UK's departure from the EU will be made on a case by case basis

Ministry of Defence: Consultants

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has allocated for consultants to work on the defence implications of the UK exiting the EU; how many such contracts his Department has tendered to date; and what the aggregate value is of such contracts.

Mike Penning: The Department has not allocated any funds for consultancy work on the Defence implications of the UK exiting the EU, nor has the department tendered any such contracts to date.

Ministry of Defence: Secondment

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) has employed or (b) plans to employ additional staff on secondment from organisations and businesses based outside the UK after the vote for the UK to leave the EU.

Mike Penning: The Department has not employed any additional staff on secondment from organisations and businesses based outside the UK after the vote for the UK to leave the EU to deal with EU exit work, nor is the Department currently planning to do so. Any future decision to hire personnel into the Department to address specific issues resulting from the UK's departure from the EU will be made on a case by case basis.

Ministry of Defence: Secondment

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) has employed or (b) plans to employ additional staff on secondment from (i) non-governmental organisations and (ii) private sector companies after the vote for the UK to leave the EU.

Mike Penning: The Department has not employed any additional staff on secondment from non-governmental organisations or the private sector since the vote for the UK to leave the EU to work on EU exit issues, nor is the Department currently planning to do so. Any future decision to recruit personnel into the Department to address specific issues resulting from the UK's departure from the EU will be made on a case by case basis.

Electronic Warfare

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the trends in the level of cyber attacks originating from outside the UK from (a) government and (b) private sources.

Mike Penning: We take the growing threat of cyber attacks on our networks and systems extremely seriously, whatever the source, and are taking action to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Our systems are regularly targeted by criminals, foreign intelligence services and other malicious actors seeking to exploit Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel, disrupt MOD business and operations, corrupt our systems and steal information. This is not unique to the MOD; other Government Departments, industry and business are also affected. However, we do not reveal specific details of trends in order to safeguard national security.

Navy: Staff

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of Royal Navy staffing levels.

Mark Lancaster: The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review made clear that the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines (RM) will increase in numbers with a 2020 target strength of 30,450. With regard to current staffing levels, the RN and RM Monthly Personnel Situation Report provides information on the number of RN and RM personnel joining and leaving the Regular Service. These can be found at:www.gov.uk/government/statistics/royal-navy-and-royal-marines-monthly-personnel-statistics-2016

Ministry of Defence: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 7WS, what consideration his Department has given to the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when making new policy and legislation since May 2015.

Mike Penning: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the wider Government are fully committed to considering the impact on children of all new policies and legislation. We comply with relevant children's legislation and the MOD contributes to the Government's periodic reports, with evidence about the recruitment of under-18s, to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.We take our duty of care for under-18s joining the Armed Forces extremely seriously; we recognise their care and welfare requires particular attention. Our safeguards are therefore robust, effective, and independently verified, including through regular OFSTED inspections of the training environment.

Trident Submarines

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2016 to Question 49732, on Trident submarines: iron and steel, what proportion of the BAE supply chain in the UK is based in Scotland.

Harriett Baldwin: It is too early in the Dreadnought submarine programme to be able to provide an estimate of the proportion of the supply chain that will be based in Scotland.The programme represents billions of pounds of investment in thousands of British jobs across hundreds of firms from Scotland to the South of England.

Trident Submarines

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question 49731, on Trident submarines, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs to be created in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK from the investment in the Successor submarines.

Harriett Baldwin: The Dreadnought submarine programme represents billions of pounds of investment in thousands of British jobs across hundreds of firms from Scotland to the South of England.Naval Base Clyde is one of the largest employment sites in Scotland, with around 6,800 military and civilian jobs now (including contractors), increasing to around 8,200 by 2022 when the base will become the home for the all of the Royal Navy's operational submarines.As of 1 July there were 10,220 military personnel and 3,840 Defence civilians based in Scotland.

Trident Submarines: Iron and Steel

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question 49731, on Trident submarines, what proportion of the total steel tonnage required for the Successor submarine programme will originate from (a) the UK, (b) France and (c) other countries.

Harriett Baldwin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 October 2016 to Question 50016 to the hon. Member for Scunthorpe (Nic Dakin).



Trident Submarines: Iron and Steel
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Armed Forces: Death

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK personnel have died on military operations in 2016 to date.

Mike Penning: To date there have been no fatalities of UK personnel on operations in 2016.

Syria: Politics and Government

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what definition of moderate his Department uses when referring to Syrian opposition groups.

Mike Penning: The moderate Syrian opposition is made up of groups which do not share an extremist ideology, and have affirmed support for a pluralist, inclusive future for Syria and a negotiated political settlement. Such groups will participate actively in political processes and will be represented at UN talks.

Syria: Military Aid

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what vetting process his Department applies to moderate Syrian opposition groups before they receive training from UK personnel.

Mike Penning: On 25 October, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the UK would renew its participation in the US-led Train and Equip Programme to train selected members of vetted moderate Syrian opposition groups outside Syria as part of the wider counter-Daesh campaign. Before being accepted for training, prospective trainees are then individually vetted and subject to security and medical screening.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of universal credit in supporting people into self-employment.

Damian Hinds: It is too early to say, as the number of self-employed claimants on UC remains low. We intend to carry out research and evaluation on self-employment in UC going forward, as the number of self-employed claimants increases. The UC Evaluation Framework, published in July 2016, sets out our plans. The UC Evaluation Framework can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-evaluation-framework-2016

Social Mobility

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish the Life Chances Strategy.

Damian Hinds: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Barnsley Central, Dan Jarvis on 17 October [47998].

Healthy Relationships Fund

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress the Government has made on the Healthy Relationships Fund.

Caroline Nokes: Since autumn 2015 we have been working with 12 local authorities to develop evidence-based strategic delivery plans to embed relationship support into local services for families.In light of the evidence review published by the Early Intervention Foundation, we are considering how best to build such capacity in all local areas, share information and support local strategic planning and delivery of services.We also aim to launch soon an opportunity to bid for contracts to deliver targeted relationship support from 2017-18 onwards.

Families: Government Assistance

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Early Intervention Foundation review, What works to enhance interparental relationships and improve children's outcomes, commissioned by his Department and published on 22 March 2016, what steps he is taking to increase investment for interventions aimed at supporting parental relationships in order to improve children's mental health and life chances.

Caroline Nokes: The Early Intervention Foundation review showed that children exposed to frequent, intense and poorly resolved conflict between their parents are at risk of poorer long term outcomes. Our new approach to relationship support responds to this evidence.Since April 2016 we have doubled the funding available for relationship support for the remainder of this Parliament. From 2017/18 we will be contracting for relationship support services which will include both help targeted at the most disadvantaged families experiencing relationship distress, as well as universal support to help all families with information and advice on building better relationships.

Families: Government Assistance

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Early Intervention Foundation review, What works to enhance interparental relationships and improve children's outcomes, commissioned by his Department and published on 22 March 2016, what steps he is taking to strengthen the policymaker's role in promoting awareness of the effect of the quality of the relationship between parents on their children.

Caroline Nokes: The report presented by the Early Intervention Foundation shows that children exposed to frequent, intense and poorly resolved conflict between their parents are at risk of poorer long term outcomes. Since publication policymakers have engaged with the Early Intervention Foundation through conferences and seminars to increase their understanding of the reports findings.This evidence is being used to inform our approach to developing policy for future relationship support provision. Since autumn 2015 we have been working with 12 local authorities to develop evidence-based strategic delivery plans to embed relationship support into local services for families.In addition we introduced the Family Test in October 2014, which means that for the first time new Government policies will be assessed for their impact on the family. This ensures that family stability is at the heart of government policy making.

Families: Government Assistance

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Early Intervention Foundation review, What works to enhance interparental relationships and improve children's outcomes, commissioned by his Department and published on 22 March 2016, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) link between the quality of a parental relationship on a child's life chances and (b) effectiveness of targeted relationship support.

Caroline Nokes: The Department has not made a formal assessment of the link between the quality of parental relationships on a child's life chances and the effectiveness of targeted relationship support. The report presented by the Early Intervention Foundation shows that children exposed to frequent, intense and poorly resolved conflict between their parents are at risk of poorer long term outcomes. This evidence is being used to inform our approach to developing policy for future relationship support provision.

Welfare State: Contracts

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will conduct a review of all payment-by-results contracts in the welfare system; and if he will place a copy of the results of that review in the Library.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will conduct a review of all payment-by-results contracts in the welfare system; and if he will place a copy of the results of that review in the Library.

Damian Hinds: As with all our policies, we aim to keep the payment by results model system under constant review to ensure that it continues to function effectively and fairly.

Children: Maintenance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2016 to Question 48694, what steps his Department is taking to increase the range of statistics available for assessing the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the Child Maintenance Service.

Caroline Nokes: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) publication strategy, which details the approach being taken by DWP statisticians to improve CMS statistics, can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488877/cms-2012-scheme-statistics-publication-strategy.pdfWe intend to update this publication strategy shortly with details on new measures and proposed timescales for publishing them.We will continue to review and update this strategy document and when data becomes available and fully quality assured. They will be released as part of a managed process, which will be pre-announced in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Children: Maintenance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2016 to Question 48695, what recent assessment he has made of the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service for families that use that service.

Caroline Nokes: The most recent published assessment of the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service was contained in the National Audit Office’s value for money study in 2014 - Child maintenance 2012 scheme: Early Progress. This concluded that progress at the time of the study had been positive. Progress has been sustained.The National Audit Office’s report is available online at:https://www.nao.org.uk/report/child-maintenance-2012-scheme-early-progress-2/

Children: Maintenance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2016 to Question 48696, what the timescale is for (a) implementing the published evaluation strategy for the child maintenance reforms and (b) considering the effect of the programme.

Caroline Nokes: As stated in the published evaluation strategy, consideration and analysis of the child maintenance reforms is currently underway and will continue up to December 2018. The effect of the programme will be assessed as part of this and will be key to understanding the effectiveness of the reforms as a whole.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Grasslands

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to implement the Guidelines for Selection of Biological SSSIs, revised in 2014, on extending the protection for the rarest and most vulnerable lowland grasslands to all sites that meet the criteria.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Selection and notification of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) is a matter for Natural England. Natural England has published its current designations programme on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-designations-programme-for-areas-sites-and-trails) and this includes several areas that host lowland grassland habitats. Natural England will continue to implement the Guidelines for the selection of biological SSSIs, as appropriate.

Utilities: Billing

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average additional annual costs to domestic consumers who are unable to (a) pay utilities bills by direct debit or (b) receive utilities bills electronically in each of the last three years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Department has not made any estimate of the average additional annual costs to domestic consumers who do not pay by direct debit or receive an electronic water bill. Water companies in England and Wales do not generally differentiate between customers that pay their water bill by direct debit or access their account online, and those that choose paper billing and annual payment. We are aware of two (Northumbrian Water and United Utilities) that offer an annual discount of £7 and £5 respectively. These discounts are not cross subsidised but reflect the value of the cost saving to companies and customers. These discounts are also an incentive to encourage greater sign up as there are benefits for both the customer and the company.

Flood Control

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department makes of the appropriateness of the relative priority given to major flood defences and routine riverbank maintenance measures by the Environment Agency.

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the funds available to the Environment Agency to carry out routine riverbank maintenance work.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are investing £2.5 billion over six years on capital flood defences (including major flood defences) up until 2021. In the Autumn Statement 2015 we confirmed that we would protect the flood asset maintenance budget (this includes funding for riverbank maintenance), in real terms, until the end of the Parliament. We also stated that we would find 10% efficiencies in maintenance by the end of the Parliament and reinvest that money in more maintenance. In the Budget 2016 we announced that we would spend an extra £40 million per year on maintenance until the end of the Parliament. These commitments mean that we are spending over £1 billion on maintenance this Parliament. This is an increase of 29% above spending on maintenance in the previous Parliament. We have assessed that this spending achieves an optimal balance between capital and maintenance spending.

Food: Waste

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to address the increase in food waste.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Working through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), we are taking action to reduce food waste across supply chains, from farm to fork. WRAP launched Courtauld 2025 in March this year, which builds on the progress we have already made. This new agreement includes a target to reduce food and drink waste arising in the UK by 20% by 2025. WRAP reports a strong start to Courtauld 2025 since its launch. Courtauld 2025 now includes food and drink businesses representing 95% of the 2016 UK food retail market, as well as many leading brands, manufacturers and hospitality and food service companies. WRAP has established industry-led working groups to address key issues, including reducing waste from fresh produce, meat protein, dairy, hospitality and food services and increasing levels of surplus food redistribution. WRAP is also initiating signatory-led innovation projects to develop best practice within food and drink supply chains.

Plastics: Recycling

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide local authorities with the appropriate facilities to enable them to recycle all kinds of plastics.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government considers that local authorities are best placed to make decisions about the management of waste under their control, taking into account local needs, the waste hierarchy and the authority’s waste management strategy. Working through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Government is developing and delivering activities in support of the use of recycled materials in new products and activities to stimulate its demand. For example, the Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan has identified key actions that need to take place across the whole supply chain to ensure that recycling plastics packaging can be done sustainably. This includes design for recyclability, collections and sorting, reprocessing and development of sustainable end markets. In September this year, WRAP and an industry advisory group published a framework for greater consistency in recycling. Actions from this framework aim to identify opportunities to rationalise packaging formats (in particular plastic packaging) to those that are recyclable and for which there is a steady market, and to help local authorities to recycle a greater variety of plastics.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Government has paid in compensation to farmers for animals culled in efforts to control bovine tuberculosis since 2010.

George Eustice: The net compensation expenditure paid to farmers for animals culled in efforts to control bovine tuberculosis since 2010 is as follows:2010/11 – £24.3m2011/12 – £23.5m2012/13 – £23.9m2013/14 – £22.6m2014/15 – £20.9m2015/16 – £20.9m

Fly-tipping: Prosecutions

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to work with local authorities to increase the number of successful prosecutions for fly-tipping.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are committed to tackling fly-tipping as set out in the Government’s manifesto. In May this year we gave local authorities in England the power to issue fixed penalty notices for small-scale fly-tipping. These new enforcement tools provide local authorities with an alternative to prosecutions and will assist them to take a proportionate enforcement response.This builds on other actions to tackle fly-tipping, which has included: Working with the Sentencing Council on its guidelines for sentencing for environmental offences. Making it easier for vehicles suspected of being involved in waste crime to be stopped, searched and seized. Working in partnership through the Defra-chaired National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to prevent and tackle illegal dumping. The group has representatives from central and local Government, enforcement authorities, the waste industry and private landowners. The group works to promote and disseminate good practice in the prevention, reporting, investigation and clearance of fly-tipped waste. Publishing a series of fly-tipping prevention guides for householders, businesses, landowners and local authorities, including Fly-tipping responsibilities: Guide for local authorities and land managers. These documents can be viewed at www.tacklingflytipping.com. Publishing a revised, waste Duty of Care Code of Practice that provides guidance to local authorities, regulators, the waste industry and all those that produce, keep, import, treat, have control or dispose of controlled waste on how to comply with their Duty of Care obligations.

Home Office

Doctors: Migrant Workers

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy not to issue any future deportation notices to foreign-born doctors currently working in the NHS.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Doctors from overseas seeking to remain in the UK are expected to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules in the same way as any other migrant.Should they fail to qualify to remain in the UK under the Immigration Rules they will be expected to leave the UK voluntarily but should they fail to do so then steps may be taken to enforce their departure.

Migrant Camps: Calais

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on the UK's obligations as agreed in the August 2015 joint ministerial declarations, Managing migratory flows in Calais, of the French government's decision to close the Calais camp for refugees and migrants.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Although the decision to clear the camp in Calais is a matter for the French Government, the UK and France remain committed to working together to protect our shared border in Calais and address the humanitarian challenges in the camps.Both governments are clear that those in northern France in need of protection should claim asylum in France and those not in need should return to their home country.Our priority is to ensure the safety and security of children in the camps. The UK Government has made clear its commitment to transfer unaccompanied refugee children under the 2016 Immigration Act, where it is in their best interests, and to ensure those with close family in the UK are brought here using the Dublin Regulation.

Criminal Records: EU Countries

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times (a) have EU member states notified the UK and (b) has the UK notified other EU member states of convictions of nationals of their respective countries via the European Criminal Records Information system in each year since 2012.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Refugees: Children

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 22 September 2016 to Question HL1788, how many outstanding family reunion applications there are for unaccompanied children from France; what steps are being taken to ensure those applications are processed quickly; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK remains in contact with children with outstanding applications in the event that they are moved away from Calais.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Home Office teams have been deployed to France to work with the French Authorities to speed up the identification and transfer of eligible cases under both the Dublin Regulation and Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.More children are arriving to join their family in the UK each day. It is therefore not possible to provide an exact number of outstanding family reunion applications.The UK has made clear that the remaining children, including those who do not qualify for family reunion must be looked after in safe facilities. The UK Government is ready to help fund such facilities and provide resources to aid the decision-making.

Refugees: Calais

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will grant all children brought from Calais under the Dublin agreement or the Dubs amendment indefinite leave to remain.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government will process cases in line with the EU’s Dublin Regulation and Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.The Dublin Regulation does not confer leave on individuals; it is a mechanism for transferring responsibility of asylum claims between Member States.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2016 to Question 46417, what assessment the Government has made of the likelihood of reaching its target of resettling 20,000 Syrians before the end of the current Parliament at current resettlement rates.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Work continues with local authorities and International Partners to deliver the Government’s commitment to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over the lifetime of this Parliament and we are on track to do this.Progress on resettlement will be indicated in quarterly immigration statistics. The last set of statistics, published on 25 August 2016 showed that 2,646 Syrians were relocated to the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme between October 2015 and June 2016.

Refugees: Children

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children coming to the UK as refugees from Calais are under 18 years olds.

Mr Robert Goodwill: All individuals are referred to the UK authorities by the French non-governmental organisation, France terre d'asile and are then interviewed by French and UK officials.Where credible and clear documentary evidence of age is not available, trained officials will use criteria including physical appearance and demeanour to assess age as part of the interview process.Where we believe someone is significantly over the age of 18, they will be refused transfer to the UK as a child. The Home Office does not use dental x-rays to determine an individual’s age; the British Dental Association has described them as inaccurate, inappropriate and unethical.

Overseas Students: Visas

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of student visas that have been obtained fraudulently in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office does not hold the specific information in the format requested. To obtain it would involve interrogating individual case records, at disproportionate cost.All out of country entry clearance applications are subject to an extensive range of mandatory and discretionary checks. These include, but are not limited to, identity, travel document verification, searches against national and international police records, and against previous immigration history.All applicants applying for student visas are required to meet the Immigration Rules. In the event that any fraudulent activity has been used to apply for a visa, the applicant may be refused under the Immigration Rules.

Home Office: Recruitment

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's policy not to employ people who have recently resided at an address covered by the British Forces Post Office.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office does not have a policy that precludes employing people who have recently resided at an address covered by the British Forces Post Office.

Refugees: Syria

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the £10 million funding package for English language tuition for resettled Syrian refugees announced on 4 September 2016, how many ESOL levels those eligible to participate will be expected to attain.

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the £10 million package announced on 4 September 2016 for resettled Syrian refugees, how many hours of additional English language teaching per refugee that funding will provide.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The ESOL funding is provided to help refugees learn English and integrate into British society.Although it is expected that standards of English will improve, there is currently no standard set attainment level, as ability levels will differ. The ESOL courses should be at least 12 hours a week, for a 3 – 6 month period.

Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's policy to reserve the right to continue to use Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre in the event that the plan to establish a new detention facility at Glasgow Airport does not go ahead.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a sunset clause on her Department's use of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre.

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on its plans to close Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre and to establish a new detention facility at Glasgow Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The contract with GEO Ltd to operate Dungavel immigration removal centre (IRC) does not contain a sunset clause. It is extendable for 12 months at a time, until September 2019. It is currently extended to September 2017.The closure of Dungavel IRC is dependent on the success of the planning application for the new short term holding facility near Glasgow airport, currently under consideration by Renfrewshire Council.The Government announced that it intended to close Dungavel when the new short term holding facility is ready, and therefore it is the Government’s policy to reserve its right to continue to use Dungavel for the purposes of immigration detention should the planning application be unsuccessful.

Asylum: Eritrea

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to new guidance issued by the Upper Tribunal on Eritrea on 10 October 2016, what steps she will take to update her Department's travel guidance on that country.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We will this week publish a country policy and information note on Eritrea updated in light of the Upper Tribunal’s determination in the Eritrea country guidance of MST and Others, which was handed down to respective parties on 7 October and published on 10 October.

Overseas Students: Visas

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received on the number of student visas issued to international students studying on UK higher education courses who lack proficiency in English.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Students who wish to study a higher education course in the UK need to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in English, currently set at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level B2 in each of the four components (speaking, listening, reading and writing), with some exemptions as set out in paragraphs 127-129 at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540421/T4_Migrant_Guidance_July_2016.pdfWe will shortly be consulting on proposed changes to the non-EU work and study migration routes to see what more we can do to strengthen the system to support the best institutions – and those that stick to the rules – to attract the best talent.Interested parties, including businesses and members of the education sector, will have the opportunity to engage with this consultation to help us get these reforms right.

Migrant Camps: Calais

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on tackling acts of violence at the refugee camp in Calais.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Whilst the clearance of the camp in Calais is a matter for the French authorities, we are working closely to ensure that it is delivered as calmly as possible.Our priority is to ensure the safety of children during the clearance and to ensure unaccompanied children eligible to come to the UK are transferred as quickly as possible.

Asylum: Children

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many child asylum applicants have been refused accommodation by a local authority in each  of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mr Robert Goodwill: No unaccompanied asylum seeking children have been refused accommodation by local authorities.Under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 local authorities have a duty to provide accommodation to any child in need who requires it.

Stun Guns

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will conduct an immediate review of the use of tasers (a) in mental health settings and (b) by the police more generally.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the frequency and relative effect of the use of tasers on (a) people from the UK's Afro-Caribbean communities and (b) the general population.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2016 to Question 41026, which police forces record the ethnicity, age, location and outcome of all serious uses of force by police officers, including the use of tasers, in accordance with the recommendations of Chief Constable David Shaw's review.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2016 to Question 41026, when she plans to extend the recording of ethnicity, age, location and outcome of all serious uses of force by police officers, including the use of tasers, beyond the Pathfinder forces.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2016 to Question 41026, for what reason the collection of information on the ethnicity, age, location and outcome of all serious uses of force by police officers, including the use of tasers, will not form part of the 2016-17 Home Office Annual Data Return; if she will make it her policy to bring forward the publication of that data; and if she will make it her policy to publish that data on a quarterly basis.

Brandon Lewis: No data is recorded centrally on the frequency and relative effect of the use of TASER on people from Afro-Caribbean communities and the general population in England and Wales.We are committed to improving transparency and accountability on the police use of force, which is why in 2014, the then Home Secretary asked former CC David Shaw (Chief Constable for West Mercia until July 2016) to lead a review into what data should be recorded and published.The Review recommended the police record and publish the ethnicity, age, location and outcome of all serious use of force by police officers, including physical restraint and the use of TASER ® X26. Eight pathfinder police forces worked to implement the new data collection system from April 2016, and from October all forces are now working to implement this system. All forces are expected to publish their record level use of force data. We expect a sub-set of the data collected to form part of the overall Home Office 2017-18 Annual Data Requirement, which will be published on an annual basis.There are no plans to review of the use of TASER in mental health settings. The deployment of police officers to mental health settings and the tactics used are an operational matter for the police. Any use of force by police officers in psychiatric wards – or any other setting – must be appropriate, proportionate, necessary and conducted as safely as is possible. If police officers need to use force, it is right that they are expected to account for their actions.

Burglary: Lancashire

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average response time was for responding by Lancashire Constabulary to a burglary in each division of the county of Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not hold information on response times to offences recorded by the police.

Mining: Industrial Disputes

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to establish a public inquiry into events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984.

Amber Rudd: Following the request from the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign for an Inquiry or independent review into the events that occurred at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984, I have today issued a Written Ministerial Statement setting out my decision. I have concluded that there is no case for either a statutory inquiry or an independent review.

Asylum: Housing

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures she has put in place to ensure that providers inform local authorities in advance of their plans to place asylum seekers in accommodation within those local authority areas.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office works closely with COMPASS providers and local authorities through Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers.These partnerships allow Providers to formally consult with local authorities and statutory bodies to ensure all new proposed property procurement and landlords meet the required contractual and statutory standards.

Asylum: Eritrea

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will issue updated country guidance for Eritrea as a result of the recent decision of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum) on asylum seekers from that country.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We aim to publish an updated country policy and information note on Eritrea this week. This will take into account the recent Upper Tribunal’s determination in the Eritrea country guidance case.

Fire and Rescue Services

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of changes in the level of funding on the resilience of the fire and rescue service.

Brandon Lewis: Fire and Rescue Authorities have delivered significant savings since 2010, and fire deaths and injuries are at a near historic low.Authorities can still work smarter to reduce costs. Since 2009/10 single-purpose fire authorities’ non-ringfenced reserves rose by 150 % to £595 million. Those resources should be targeted at achieving long-term efficiencies

Refugees: Children

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children who are entitled to be resettled in the UK under the Dublin III arrangements have had their applications for take charge requests denied or rejected by the Home Office in the last twelve months.

Amber Rudd: The Dublin Regulation deals with the transfer of asylum claims for consideration, not resettlement. Our records indicate that, from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016, the UK refused 98 ‘take charge’ requests under Dublin for a minor, generally where we were not satisfied as to the claimed family relationship with a person in the UK.

HM Treasury

Non-domestic Rates: Rural Areas

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on extending Small Business Rate Relief to businesses that claim Rural Rate Relief.

Jane Ellison: Rural Rate Relief provides 50% mandatory relief from business rates. The hierarchy of reliefs requires that a ratepayer must be given Rural Rate Relief over Small Business Rate Relief. The government keeps all taxes under review.

EU Grants and Loans: Liverpool City Region

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on (a) Liverpool City Region and (b) Wirral of not making up the shortfall in funding from the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund after the 2014 to 2020 programme has concluded.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what forecast he had made of the potential amount of European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund payments that (a) Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and (b) Wirral would have been allocated in the 2021 to 2027 funding period.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to develop a system of regional funding as a long-term replacement for the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund.

Mr David Gauke: The government has provided a guarantee for all European Structural and Investment Fund projects signed before the Autumn Statement. The government has also provided a guarantee for all projects signed after the Autumn Statement and before the UK’s departure from the European Union, if they provide good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. The government has not made a forecast of funding allocations for the 2021 to 2027 programme period. For the 2014-2020 programme period Liverpool City Region has received a European Social and Investment Fund allocation of €221.9m. Officials are beginning the longer-term work of considering how best to support our regions following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Economic Situation: Liverpool City Region

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government is conducting a regional assessment of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) Liverpool City Region and (b) Wirral.

Mr David Gauke: As the Chancellor outlined at the Treasury Select Committee recently, the government is carrying out a range of analysis, which will help to inform the Prime Minister’s negotiating strategy. The government has provided a guarantee for all European structural and investment fund projects signed before the Autumn Statement. The government has also guaranteed all European structural projects signed after the Autumn Statement and before the UK’s departure from the European Union, provided that they pass the value-for-money test and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.

Newspaper Press: Ownership and Taxation

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will call on British newspapers to disclose their ownership structure and tax arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Government has driven forward international efforts to improve transparency over who ultimately owns and controls companies. The Government has also been at the forefront of international efforts to develop a public model of country-by-country reporting on a multilateral basis to further enhance transparency. It is intended that these actions would apply across all industry sectors.

Monetary Policy

Tristram Hunt: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) he, (b) his advisers and (c) officials of his Department have had with representatives from the Bank of England to discuss the effect of quantitative easing on inequality since his appointment.

Simon Kirby: It is a matter of public record that the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss a wide range of economic and financial issues consistent with their roles. Treasury officials and representatives of the Bank of England also meet routinely in order to carry out their responsibilities.

Euro: Money Markets

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of a loss of permission to undertake euro-denominated clearing in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Kirby: I refer the honourable member to the answer given by the Chancellor during Treasury Oral questions on 25 October 2016.

Overseas Trade: China

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans unilaterally to grant China market economy status in the event of the UK leaving the EU and its single market.

Simon Kirby: The UK remains a full member of the EU until we formally exit and all rights and obligations under the EU, including trade defence measures, still apply. We will continue to support the EU’s trade agenda and we look forward to the Commission’s proposals on Market Economy Status later in the Autumn.

Concentrix: Standards

Louise Haigh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to pay Synnex-Concentrix UK Limited any compensation as a result of the early termination of the HM Revenue and Customs Benefits and Credits, Errors and Fraud Adding Capacity 444 contract.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs and Synnex-Concentrix UK Limited are currently in discussions to achieve a managed early exit from the contract. There are commercial sensitivities around the details at this time.

Concentrix: Haringey

Catherine West: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of tax credit cases awaiting consideration by Concentrix in (a) Hornsey and Wood Green constituency and (b) the London Borough of Haringey.

Catherine West: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in (a) Hornsey and Wood Green constituency and (b) the London Borough of Haringey have had a tax credit claim stopped by Concentrix; and how many such claims were subsequently reinstated by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is focused on resolving the outstanding cases. As at 30 October, of approximately 181,000 cases taken back by HMRC from Concentrix, around 178,000 are now finalised. As HMRC clears the work taken back from Concentrix, it will be working on a regional breakdown of mandatory reconsideration requests.

Concentrix

Catherine West: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether (a) his Department, (b) HM Revenue and Customs and (c) Concentrix have issued a formal apology for each erroneous accusation made by Concentrix against legitimate tax credit recipients.

Jane Ellison: Concentrix is required to respond to any complaints which relate to the quality of their handling of compliance enquiries, as distinct from complaints on the substance of these investigations which are dealt with by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC will issue a response to each individual complaint received and, where appropriate, an apology if the standard of service is found lacking.

Concentrix: Standards

Catherine West: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to section 13.1 of the formal contract between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and SYNNEX-Concentrix Ltd, for what reasons (a) HMRC and (b) his Department has not investigated Concentrix's performance.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs has regularly reviewed Concentrix’s performance delivery with regard to all aspects of the contract.

Child Tax Credit: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency are in receipt of tax credits for three or more children.

Jane Ellison: The latest available figures1 for the number of families in the constituencies of Warrington South and Warrington North claiming tax credits for three or more children, are shown in the table below. Warrington NorthWarrington SouthTotal1,5351,3102,845 1. Rounded to the nearest 5 in line with National Statistics.

Concentrix

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the financial effect of incorrect assessments carried out by Concentrix on people (a) in Bristol West constituency, (b) in the UK and (c) who are victims of domestic violence; and if he will make an assessment of the other effects of such incorrect assessments on such people.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is focused on resolving the outstanding cases. As HMRC clears the work taken back from Concentrix, it will be working on a regional breakdown of mandatory reconsideration requests.

Northern Ireland Office

Reparation by Offenders: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to meet representatives of restorative justice schemes in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The honourable Lady highlighted the work carried out in her constituency by North Down Alternatives during a recent Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence session. Following that debate I asked my officials to make arrangements for me to meet the accredited restorative justice groups that co-operate with the police in Northern Ireland.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Staff

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current level of personnel in the PSNI; and what response he has made to the recent representations by the Police Federation for staffing levels to be increased.

James Brokenshire: Staffing levels in the Police Service of Northern Ireland are a matter for the Chief Constable and PSNI’s budget is provided by the Department of Justice. However, we will always give our fullest possible backing to the men and women of the PSNI who do such a superb job. That is partly why this Government has provided specific Additional Security Funding totalling £230million in the last parliament and committed a further £160m in the current parliament.

Department for International Trade

European Free Trade Association

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the possibility of the UK rejoining the European Free Trade Association.

Greg Hands: The Prime Minister has been clear that we are not going to provide a running commentary on our approach to negotiations. We recognise the need for a smooth transition as the UK leaves the EU which minimises disruption to our trading relationships. The Government is discussing our future trade relationship with a range of countries, including those in the European Free Trade Association.

Trade Promotion

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the cost to the public purse was of the UKTI British House project in Rio; what the aims of that project were; and what steps his Department has taken to assess its effectiveness towards those aims.

Mark Garnier: The British House in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics was a unique partnership between the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association, the Mayor of London and the UK Government’s GREAT Britain campaign. The total budget for British House during the Olympics was £3.8m and for the Paralympics £1.2m with each partner contributing financially towards the cost of delivery. Sponsorship, gifted mainly through value-in-kind with a wide range of companies also contributed to reducing certain budget items. Project costs are currently being finalised and details of expenditure will be published on www.gov.uk in accordance with government commitments on transparency in procurement.British House was a unique platform which showcased the best of London and the UK from its culture, sporting prowess, business expertise and investment opportunities to an international audience at the world’s biggest sporting event, building on the success of London 2012. All partners involved in British House worked together to provide a home away from home for Team GB and ParaGB athletes, their friends and families to celebrate their sporting performance. Over time, we expect British House to contribute to the GREAT Britain campaign by not only enhancing the perception of the UK but by increasing levels of trade, investment, tourism and international students to the UK.Each partner is currently evaluating their own contribution to British House. The Department for International Trade is analysing feedback that was collected from guests when the House was open and post-event and will make available its report publicly.

Overseas Trade

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether leaving the EU customs union is a prerequisite to signing trade agreements with non-EU countries.

Mark Garnier: As the Prime Minister has said, the UK will strike a unique agreement that gets the best deal for people at home, and the right deal for Britain abroad. The issues relating to the customs union are complex and the Government continues to consider our approach to this issue carefully. Whilst we remain clear that it would be wrong to give a running commentary on our work, it is not correct that the UK simply faces a binary choice between our customs arrangements and future trading relationship with non-EU countries.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

S4C: Reviews

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Office on the Government's review of S4C.

Matt Hancock: We strongly support S4C. We work closely and collaboratively with the Welsh Government on areas of common interest - including the proposed review of S4C.

S4C: Reviews

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how she plans to ensure that the review of S4C is independent.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to make an announcement as to who will lead the independent review of S4C.

Matt Hancock: The Government is committed to a comprehensive review of S4C in 2017 covering remit, funding and governance. Further details including the name of the reviewer, terms of reference and process will be announced in due course.

S4C: Reviews

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the review of S4C.

Matt Hancock: The Department and Ministers meet regularly with the Welsh Government on areas of common interest - including the proposed review of S4C.

National Citizen Service Trust

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the funding and operation of the National Citizen Service.

Mr Rob Wilson: NCS receives no European Union funding. It is domestic policy and as such should not be affected by the UK’s exit from the European Union.

National Citizen Service Trust: Pay

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) salary and (b) expenses the Chair of Patrons at the National Citizen Service receives.

Mr Rob Wilson: The Chair of NCS Patrons is an entirely voluntary role. The Chair of Patrons will volunteer his time to National Citizen Service and will not receive a salary. NCS Trust may, from time to time, reimburse reasonable expenses properly incurred for the role, in line with common practice across the voluntary and charitable sector.

National Citizen Service Trust: Correspondence

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the provisions of the National Citizen Service Bill [Lords], what estimate her Department has made of the cost of writing to every 16 year old to promote the National Citizen Service.

Mr Rob Wilson: The Department is in discussion with HMRC about the most cost effective way to ensure that as many participants as possible are aware of this fantastic programme.

National Citizen Service Trust

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish a list of patrons of the National Citizen Service.

Mr Rob Wilson: NCS Patrons will be a cross-party, cross-sector group of influential supporters. At present, the Chair of Patrons is working with NCS Trust to build a new Panel, which will be announced in due course. As an independent social enterprise, NCS Trust will announce new Patrons as they are appointed, and the list will be published on its website (www.ncsyes.co.uk).

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Travel Office

Frank Field: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, on how many days under the current Travel Office contract the ticket machines situated in the House have been unable to print hon. Members' travel tickets.

Tom Brake: The Trainline ticket machine situated in the Parliamentary Travel Office has been unable to print tickets on six separate days since September 2014, the latest period being 17–19 October 2016. The machine is owned by Trainline but it is CTM’s responsibility to ensure that they report any faults so that they can be fixed quickly and efficiently.The ticket machine situated in the Members’ Centre in Portcullis House is maintained by IPSA and therefore the Commission does not hold records on the operation of that machine. However, officials are aware that the machine has been out of service since the beginning of September 2016.

Department of Health

Eyesight: Testing

Mrs Flick Drummond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England aged over 60 had a free eye sight test in each of the last three years; and what proportion that was of the total number of people eligible for such tests.

David Mowat: The table below, taken from the General Ophthalmic Services Activity Statistics for England, published by NHS Digital, shows the number of National Health Service sight tests provided to people aged 60 and over in England, between 2013/14 and 2015/16. YearTotal NHS sight test for people aged 60 and over% of total NHS sight tests2013/145,576,95743.6%2014/155,507,93243.2%2015/165,651,02543.5% It is not possible to estimate what proportion of people eligible for free NHS sight tests used their entitlement during the reported years. Notes:Patients may qualify for an NHS sight test on more than one criterion. However, they would only be recorded against one criterion on the form. Patients are more likely to be recorded according to their clinical need rather than their age. For example, a patient aged over 60, with glaucoma is likely to be recorded in the glaucoma category only. The count by eligibility is therefore approximate.The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one NHS sight test within the same period.

Patients: Death

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is on requiring NHS trusts to record avoidable deaths; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS Improvement and NHS England wrote to all National Health Service providers on 17 December 2015 to ask them to conduct a self-assessment of their rate of avoidable mortality. On the same date, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS421) to the House in which he announced that the Care Quality Commission would undertake a wider review into the investigation of deaths and how the NHS learns from them across all types of NHS trust (acute, mental health and community trusts) in different parts of the country. We intend to respond to the publication of that review setting out our plans for ensuring that the NHS reports and learns from such incidents, including how avoidable mortality is recorded and generates learning at a local level.

Health Services

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have (a) registered for and (b) attended events as part of the Better Health Programme.

Mr Philip Dunne: This information is not available centrally. The Better Health Programme is a locally-led programme run by the National Health Service in Darlington, Durham and Tees. Information on the number of people who registered for and attended engagement events can be obtained from the NHS locally.

Suicide: Beachy Head

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with Eastbourne Borough Council on steps to deter or prevent people from taking their own life on Beachy Head.

Nicola Blackwood: We have not had any discussions with Eastbourne Borough Council about Beachy Head as a place used by people to take their own life. Local authorities are responsible for local suicide prevention by working with local agencies to implement local suicide prevention plans. Public Health England (PHE) published guidance in 2015, ‘Preventing suicides in public places: A practice resource’, to support local areas taking action in places known to be used for suicide: https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=public-health-england PHE also published refreshed guidance on 25 October, ‘Local suicide prevention planning: a practice resource’, to support local areas to implement multi-agency suicide prevention plans which will bring together all local agencies to work collaboratively to prevent suicide: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/562280/PHE_local_suicide_prevention_planning_a_practice_resource.pdf

Muscular Dystrophy

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of care available to treat people with the limb girdle 2b form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

David Mowat: NHS England’s neurosciences services specifications for adults and children set out what providers must have in place to deliver evidence-based, safe and effective care for patients with neuromuscular disorders, including limb girdle 2b. Under the care of a consultant-led multidisciplinary team that includes a range of clinical, specialist and health professionals, patients can receive tailored care and support, access to specialist treatments and supportive therapies. The specifications can be found at the following links:www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdfwww.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/e09-paedi-neurology.pdf

Muscular Dystrophy: Translarna

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment NHS England has made of the effectiveness of the Translarna drug in treating the limb girdle 2b form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

David Mowat: NHS England has advised that limb girdle 2b is a form of muscular dystrophy distinct from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. NHS England understands that Ataluren (Translarna) has not been trialed by the manufacturers of this drug, PTC Therapeutics, as a treatment for this disease and therefore no assessment has been made.

Liver Diseases: Children

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for the health of children with liver disease of continuity of care as they make the transition to adult services.

David Mowat: The transition from children’s to adults’ health services is a matter for National Health Service providers and commissioners. To support effective transition commissioners and providers should be drawing on best practice and guidance such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline, Transition from children’s to adults’ services for young people using health or social care services which was published in February 2016.

Womb Cancer

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons womb cancer is not included by name in the Be Clear on Cancer campaign run by Public Health England.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of womb cancer.

David Mowat: Public Health England (PHE) runs the ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaigns to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of specific cancers, and to encourage those with symptoms to see their doctor promptly. There are a number of cancers that are not covered by ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ including womb cancer. A number of factors are taken into account when deciding which campaigns to develop and run, with one of the main criteria being the scope to save lives through earlier diagnosis and whether the cancer has a clear early sign or symptom that the general public can act upon should it arise. Given this, PHE is looking at developing an approach to raise awareness of generic symptoms that can indicate a wider number of cancers and the need to visit the doctor promptly with these symptoms. This work is currently in development with the input of a wide range of experts. The decision on which cancers should be the focus of ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaigns is informed by a steering group, whose members include primary and secondary care clinicians, and key voluntary sector organisations.

Cancer

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps Health Education England plans to take to ensure that the strategic review of the cancer workforce addresses the complex needs of the growing number of people living with and beyond cancer.

David Mowat: Delivering high quality, effective, compassionate care: Developing the right people with the right skills and the right values - A mandate from the Government to Health Education England: April 2016 to March 2017 (October 2016) states that Health Education England (HEE) will continue to take forward relevant recommendations set out in the independent Cancer Task Force report, Achieving World Class Cancer Outcomes: a strategy for England 2015 - 2020, including working with partners to develop a vision for the future shape and skills mix of the workforce required to deliver a modern, holistic patient-centred cancer service and report by December 2016. Supported by Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, HEE has been leading on this recommendation and has completed an initial cancer workforce baseline review that has been shared and discussed with key stakeholders. The review is regularly updated with emerging intelligence from Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) areas on the workforce they require to deliver the cancer service challenge. In addition, HEE is leading on a major piece of work to address the workforce challenges in transforming cancer services, which includes a skills mix review. It has agreed an approach with key stakeholders for the review and will be working through Local Workforce Action Boards, Vanguards and Cancer Alliances to understand the skills mix needed for emerging cancer service models. HEE will report back on this work in March 2017. HEE will also be working with the National Cancer Transformation Board’s Living With and Beyond Cancer Oversight Group to understand the workforce requirements outlined in Implementing the Cancer Taskforce Recommendations: Commissioning Person Centred Care for People Affected By Cancer (April 2016), including reviewing good practice in approaches to reduce and managing long term consequences of treatment. HEE will work with STPs and clinical commissioning groups to support their service proposals by identifying and addressing the workforce challenges to develop the workforce to put this guidance into action.

NHS: Migrant Workers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from NHS trusts on safeguards for EU nationals working in the NHS after the UK has left the EU; and if he will make a statement.

David Mowat: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health meets with National Health Service trusts regularly, both at the Department and on his visits to the NHS frontline. He discusses a range of issues, including how we can ensure that the NHS has the workforce that it needs in order to deliver safe and high quality care. Currently a quarter of our doctors come from overseas. They do a fantastic job. When it comes to those who are European Union nationals, we have been clear we want them to be able to stay post-Brexit.

Prescriptions

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to implement prescribing guidelines to limit variations in the provision and quality of NHS services between (a) clinical commissioning groups in England and (b) local health boards in Wales.

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) clinical commissioning groups in England and (b) local health boards in Wales are held to account for local prescribing policy decisions which restrict patient access to drugs and borderline substances recommended for reimbursement.

David Mowat: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for decisions on commissioning health services to best meet the needs of their local population and are accountable for local prescribing policy decisions. In commissioning services CCGs will reflect the needs of local people and support improvements in health and healthcare outcomes. NHS England therefore has no plans to monitor the implementation of local prescribing policies. Arrangements for prescribing medicines in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Arthritis: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to make the arthritis pacemaker implant available on the NHS.

David Mowat: We are aware of recent research regarding a new implant to treat arthritis, however this research remains at a relatively early stage and larger scientific trials would be needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of such a device before it could be considered for routine National Health Service use.

General Practitioners

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent general practice clinical staff there were in (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, (b) the north east of England and (c) England in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16.

David Mowat: The number of full time equivalent general practitioners, nurses and staff delivering direct patient care is shown in the table attached. Information is not available for Houghton and Sunderland South constituency; National Health Service workforce statistics are available at NHS organisation level only. Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group is the organisation most geographically comparable to Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, and these are the figures provided. The North East of England is serviced by NHS England North (Cumbria and North East) Region Geography. Prior to 2015 the North East was serviced by Durham, Darlington and Tees NHS England Area Team and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS England Area Team.



PQ50288 table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.79 KB)

General Practitioners: Houghton and Sunderland South

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many general practice (a) full and (b) part-time clinical staff (i) left and (ii) began employment in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency in (A) 2013-14, (B) 2014-15 and (C) 2015-16.

David Mowat: This information is not collected centrally.

Cataracts: Surgery

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cataract operations were performed in NHS hospitals in each of the last five years.

David Mowat: The number of finished consultant episodes with a main or secondary procedure of cataract operation broken down by provider type, for 2010-11 to 2014-15 are shown in in the table below. It shows activity in English National Health Service Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  Provider Type YearNHSIndependentTotal2010-11314,18825,808339,9962011-12303,69430,058333,7522012-13298,33235,273333,6052013-14319,64945,821365,4702014-15338,29759,801398,098 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

Health Services: Veterans

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the progress that has been made in improving the recording of patients' status as armed forces veterans.

David Mowat: There is no requirement for veteran status to be recorded. In order to ensure that veterans are able to access the best possible health services the Ministry of Defence has a process in place with NHS England for the passing of patients’ notes to a National Health Service general practitioner on transition from the Armed Forces.

Health Services: Veterans

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of prioritising NHS treatment for armed forces veterans.

David Mowat: No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of prioritising National Health Service treatment for Armed Forces veterans. Priority treatment for veterans relates to health requirements resulting from their time in the Armed Forces and is subject to clinical needs of others. Decisions are therefore made on an individual basis and subject to the clinical judgement of those involved. We are working with the Royal British Legion to consider what more can be done to raise awareness of the priority treatment process for veterans with service related health needs.

Health Services: Armed Forces

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department holds on the number of health care professionals who have completed the new NHS Healthcare for the Armed Forces e-learning module.

David Mowat: The numbers of health care professionals accessing the Health Education England Armed Forces e-learning module since initial launch in May 2016: YearMonthCount of Session LaunchesDistinct Active UsersIncomplete StatusesCompleted Statuses2016510437201666215194320167239527616320168115312788201691132839742016105018842Total 589148172417

Department of Health: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 6 December 2010, Col 7WS, what consideration his Department has given to the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when making new policy and legislation since May 2015.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department recognises the importance of considering the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child when making new policy and legislation. Alongside other Government Departments we report every five years to the UN Committee on our compliance. Following the most recent oral hearing in May 2016, the UN Committee has made a number of concluding observations. We will be able to demonstrate progress against these observations during the next reporting round.

Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many perinatal mental health specialist (a) doctors and (b) nurses were in place in (i) Liverpool Wavertree constituency, (ii) Liverpool, (iii) England and (iv) each region in each year since 2009-10.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mental health nurses were in place in (a) Liverpool Wavertree constituency, (b) Liverpool, (c) England and (d) each region in each year since 2009-10.

Mr Philip Dunne: Information on the number of perinatal mental health specialists is not collected. NHS Digital publishes monthly Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) data on the number of mental health nurses employed in the National Health Service in England. Following a public consultation in 2015, categorisation of trusts and staff groups included in the monthly HCHS publication changed. NHS Digital has also provided a revised time series on the new basis which allows comparison with previous years back to September 2009. Mental health nurses include those working in community psychiatry, other psychiatry, community learning disabilities and other learning disabilities. Information is not available for Liverpool Wavertree constituency. National Health Service workforce statistics are available at National, Health Education England (HEE) regions, and NHS organisation level. The attached table shows the number of mental health nurses employed in the NHS in Liverpool and by HEE regions, between September 2009 and July 2016, the latest date for which data is available. Mental health nurse training planned commissions have increased year on year since 2013-14 and mental health nursing is one of the key target areas HEE has identified to increase future supply. The Government is supporting HEE to deliver the Taskforce recommendation to work with NHS England, Public Health England, professional bodies, charities, experts-by-experience and others to develop a costed, multi-disciplinary workforce strategy for the future shape and skill mix of the workforce required to deliver both the Five Year Forward View and the workforce recommendations set out in Future in Mind.



PQ50522 50523 mental health nurses table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 30.06 KB)

NHS: Forms

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to re-categorise the Debt and Mental Health Evidence form as an NHS form.

Nicola Blackwood: There are no current plans to re-categorise Debt and Mental Health Evidence forms as National Health Service forms.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to young people who are transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services.

Nicola Blackwood: The Government is committed to delivering the vision set out in the Future in Mind report, published March 2015, to transform children and young people’s mental health services across England. Future in Mind acknowledges the difficulty of transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services. This is why there should be flexibility around age boundaries, in which transition is based on individual circumstances, rather than absolute age, with joint working and shared practice between services to promote continuity of care. The core delivery mechanism in making Future in Mind happen is the system-wide, publicly available local transformation plans (LTPs) that cover the full spectrum of need for children and young people who have existing or emerging mental health problems, and which includes transitions between services. NHS England conducted a qualitative study of LTPs which was published in August 2016. This focussed on a number of issues including transition from CAMHS to adult mental health services. The study can be found here:www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/08/cyp-mh-ltp.pdf

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2016 to Question 49464 and with reference to the Answer of 8 September 2014 to Question 208139, on incinerators: health hazards, what the reasons are for the time taken for the papers to be published.

Nicola Blackwood: The publication of the Public Health England funded study by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) at Imperial College and the Environmental Research Group at King’s College London investigating the potential link between emissions from municipal waste incinerators and health outcomes has been delayed due to the complexity in accessing and gathering data from a number of sources in a variety of formats. It is expected that papers from the project will be submitted by SAHSU to peer reviewed journals in spring 2017, and it is likely to be a few months after submission for the papers to be published.

NHS

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many representations he and officials of his Department have received from NHS managers and employees on the financial viability of NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups; and if he will publish those representations.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department does not receive direct representations from National Health Service trusts, foundation trusts or clinical commissioning groups on the financial position of those organisations. Any such representations will come via NHS Improvement or NHS England, who provide the oversight role, working with these local healthcare organisations to make continual assessment of financial performance and sustainability. These bodies have set out their own plan for delivering financial sustainability for the NHS, in the Five Year Forward View (October 2014) and Strengthening Financial Performance and Accountability document (July 2016). They will publish updates on performance against these plans on a quarterly basis.

NHS: Finance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether funding to the NHS will increase if inflation forecasts are revised upwards by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Spending Review settlement, delivered by the Chancellor on 25 November 2015, set the Department’s overall budget for the remaining years of the Parliament and the level of funding that will be available to the National Health Service. It set absolute spending totals providing certainty for financial planning over the period. The Department’s expenditure budgets are not adjusted for inflation but real terms growth in health expenditure is measured through Gross Domestic Product Deflators. Gross Domestic Deflators are produced by the Treasury from data provided by the Office for National Statistics. Forecasts are produced by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility and are usually updated around the time of major policy announcements, namely; the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, and the Budget.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been received to the public purse through the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme rebate since its inception; and for what purposes that funding has been used.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department publishes the payments it receives from companies who are members of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) on the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pprs-quarterly-net-sales-and-payment-information Since the 2014 PPRS scheme began the Department has received £1,451 million in PPRS payments. The Department ensures that all the income it receives from PPRS payments in England is reinvested in the National Health Service for patients’ benefit. The Department includes the expected PPRS payments in setting the NHS England allocations in advance of each year. NHS England is responsible for allocating the overall budget between clinical commissioning groups, specialised commissioning etc. Following normal Government accounting rules, there is no separately identified or ring-fenced funding stream associated with the PPRS payment.

Health Services: Contracts

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how his Department assesses the value for money of health service contracts that are tendered by clinical commissioning groups; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should take all possible steps to ensure that they are buying the best services for patients from the best providers available. It remains for commissioners to decide how best to procure services in the interests of their patients while seeking best value for taxpayers. In October 2016 the Department published guidance on the Public Contract Regulations 2015, which aims to support commissioners in complying with the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The guidance can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-contracts-regulations-2015-for-nhs-commissioners

NHS: Per Capita Costs

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what forecast he has made of the amount per head of population that will be spent on the NHS in each year until 2020.

Mr Philip Dunne: The estimated amount per head of population that will be spent on the National Health Service in England from 2016-17 to 2020-21 is shown in the table below. Year£2016-172,1842017-182,2232018-192,2542019-202,2872020-212,340 Spend per head is based on estimated population projections for England from the Office for National Statistics and the planned budget for the Department.

Pharmacy: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of pharmacies in Warrington of proposed changes to pharmacy funding.

Mr Philip Dunne: Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service and can play an even greater role. In the Spending Review the Government re-affirmed the need for the NHS to deliver £22 billion in efficiency savings by 2020/21 as set out in the NHS’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View. Community pharmacy is a core part of NHS primary care and has an important contribution to make as the NHS rises to these challenges. The Government believes efficiencies can be made without compromising the quality of community pharmacy services including public access to medicines. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive and so we are establishing a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared to others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population. Our reforms are about improving services for patients and the public and securing efficiencies and savings. A consequence may be the closure of some pharmacies but that is not our aim. We are not able to assess which pharmacies may close because we do not know the financial circumstances of individual businesses or the extent to which they derive income from services commissioned locally by the NHS or local authorities or have non-NHS related income. The Government announced the package of reforms for the community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond on 20 October 2016. This included full details of how the Pharmacy Access Scheme will operate, as well an impact assessment for the package of reforms. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-pharmacy-reforms

Health Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to measure the effect on health outcomes of (a) restrictions on referral and (b) restrictive prescribing as a result of decisions taken by clinical commissioning groups.

David Mowat: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for decisions on commissioning health services to best meet the needs of their local population and are accountable for local prescribing policy decisions. In commissioning services CCGs will reflect the needs of local people and support improvements in health and healthcare outcomes.

Macular Degeneration

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government has spent on research into age-related macular degeneration in each year since 2010.

Nicola Blackwood: Spend on research funded directly by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is categorised by Health Research Classification System (HRCS) categories including ‘eye’. There are no HRCS health sub-categories, such as for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Investment in eye-related research by the NIHR has risen from £7.1 million in 2010/11 to £18.5 million in 2014/15 (the latest available figure). As a major part of its investment in this field, the NIHR has recently awarded £19 million over five years from April 2017 to the NIHR biomedical research centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London. This will include research on AMD. Current investment in AMD research through NIHR programmes includes:- a £2.2 million trial of stereotactic radiotherapy for wet AMD;- a £2.2 million study of early detection of neo-vascular AMD; and- a £0.9 million study of the efficacy of the telescopic mirror implant for AMD.

Macular Degeneration

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of conditions related to age-related macular degeneration in each of the last five years.

David Mowat: Data collected does not allow an estimate to be made of how much was spent specifically on treating patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Care Quality Commission

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward regulations to give the Care Quality Commission (CQC) powers to demand that all contractors providing a service that requires regulation with the CQC notify the CQC of who their subcontractors are; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It is an offence under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to carry out a regulated activity without being registered with the CQC. Sub-contractors are classed as individual providers when they are providing a regulated activity. It is the individual provider’s responsibility to register with the CQC. It is not the CQC’s role to seek out providers which should be registered. However, if it comes to the CQC’s attention that a provider may have been delivering a regulated activity without registration then the CQC will investigate. If the CQC find evidence to show that regulated activity is or has been delivered whilst unregistered the CQC may prosecute. The NHS Standard Contract states: “The Provider must provide the Co-ordinating Commissioner with the following documents: 1- Evidence of CQC registration in respect of Provider and Material Sub-Contractors (where required)2- Evidence of Monitor’s Licence in respect of Provider and Material Sub-Contractors (where required) 3- Copies of all Mandatory Material Sub-Contracts, signed and dated and in a form approved by the Co-ordinating Commissioner”

Health Professions

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent GP clinical staff there were in (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, (b) the North East of England and (c) England in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16; and how many such staff were working (A) part and (B) full-time.

David Mowat: The number of full-time equivalent general practice clinical staff working part time and full time is shown in the attached table. Information is not available for Houghton and Sunderland South constituency; National Health Service workforce statistics are available at NHS organisation level only. Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group is the organisation most geographically comparable to Houghton and Sunderland South constituency, and these are the figures provided. The North East of England is serviced by NHS England North (Cumbria and North East) Region Geography. Prior to 2015 the North East was serviced by Durham, Darlington and Tees NHS England Area Team and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS England Area Team.



PQ50329 table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 38.63 KB)

Health Professions: Houghton and Sunderland South

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent clinical staff there were in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency in 2015-16 in each GP practice in that area.

David Mowat: The information is not available in the requested format. The number of full time equivalent general practice clinical staff by practice in NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group in September 2015 and March 2016 is shown in the attached table.



PQ50328 table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.48 KB)